“Ecstasy” seizures reached record levels in 2024, surpassing pre-COVID-19 pandemic highs.

• The quantity of “ecstasy” (MDMA) seized worldwide increased by 13 percent from 2023 to 2024, more than doubling compared with 2021 levels following a pandemic-related decline.
• Increases were widespread in 2024 – reported from Africa (61 per cent), Europe (55 per cent), Oceania (36 per cent) and the Americas (35 per cent) – while only seizures in Asia recorded a decline (-34 per cent) after quadrupling in 2023.
• Europe continued to account for the largest share of seizures between 2020 and 2024 at 40 per cent, although this share has declined from more than 60 per cent between 1998 and 2003.
• Overall, 67 countries (62 per cent) reported increases of “ecstasy” seizures in 2024 as compared to a year earlier, exceeding the 41 countries reporting declines (38 per cent).